Fire-escape ladder



(No Model.)`

T. 1:'. MASON 8v G. W. SHEARER.

FIRE ESCAPEI LADDER.

N0.578;46o. Patented Mar. 9, 1897.

WITWESSES E Nonm's PErERs co. Pnorro'uno.. wAsNlNG'roN, D. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS F. MASON AND GEORGE W. SIIEARER, OF LAMB, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-ESCAPE LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,460, dated March 9, 1897.. Application filed October 24, 1896. Serial No. 609,928. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that we, THOMAS F. MASON and GEORGE W. SHEARER, citizens of the United States, residing at Lamb, in the county of Hardin and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire- Escape Ladders; and We do hereby declare thev following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in fire-escapes, and hasmore particular relation our improved 'nre-escape applied in position.

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the inner side of a window-casing with our improved supporting-bar applied thereto, and Fig. 3 represents an enlarged detail side elevation of one of the links of the latter provided with a laterally-proj ectin g arm.

A in the drawings represents the. windowcasing, B the horizontal suspending-bar attached to the same, and O ourimproved flexible ladder. The said bar B is attached to the inside of a window-casing A by means of brackets b, and is adapted to receive and support the upper end of the ilexible ladder O. The said ladder C comprises two small link portions c, adapted to pass over the windowsill from the inside of the Window-casing, plain vert-ical links c', connecting -link c2, having laterally-projecting arms and connecting links or rounds c3. The links cmay be any desired shape and construction and are intended principally to form a flexible support for passing over the window-sill, so that the ladder may be thrown out of the window and hang perpendicularly down the wall toV the ground. The links c are each compressed at their middles, as at c4, so as to form an open eye c5 at each end. The links c2, one of which is interposed between the linkse', are similar to said links c', with the exception that each is provided at its lower loop with a laterally-projecting arm c6. The office of said arms c6 is to hold the ladder at a suitable distance from the wall, so that a person descending from a burning building may pass down the inside of the ladder between it and the wall and thus be prevented from falling from the ladder. The rounds c3 each comprises a bar provided at each end with an eye or loop adapted to hook within the links of the ladder proper at suitable predetermined intervals according to the length of step desired.

When theladder is not in use, it is preferably concealed in a suitable casing applied about the supporting-rod B.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that when the escape is to be used the free lend of the ladder has simply to be thrown from the window and the person may then readily pass down upon the rounds of the ladder between it and the wall of the house, the laterally-projecting arms c6 holding said ladder a sufficient distance from the wall to permit of the person passing down from the inside. It will also be observed that the said laterally-projecting arms are so attached to the links c2 that the weight of the ladder holds them normally at right angles to the same in proper position for squarely engaging the Wall.

same time is completely concealed from view in any suitable ornamental casing about the supporting-bar when not in use.

We preferably construct the several links of our improved ladder of wrought-iron, completed in such manner as to be rust-proof.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A lire-escape ladder comprising a plurality of plain side links, each formed of a single piece of metal bent upon itself to form a double shank withloops at each end, connecting-links between the plain links and each constructed of a single piece of metal bent to form a double shank with a loop at each end, and a laterally-extending arm at one end, and rungs connecting the links of the ladder, substantially as described.

2. In a {ire-escape, the combination with a Our improved ladder is al-Y ways ready for instant application and at the IOO with loops at each end, and a laterally-projecting min, and rungs connecting` the links of the latter, substantially as described.

In testimony wwhereof We have signed this speoiieation in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS F. MASON. GEO. NV. SHEARER. Vitnesses:

J. H. TYER, W. G. GREGORY. 

